Wilhelm loeenz



(No Model.)

- W. LGRENZ.

PERCUSSION FUSE.

No. 881,264. Patented Apr. 17, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILHELM LORENZ, OF CARLSRUHE, BADEN, GERMANY.

PERCUSSION-FUSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 381,264. dated April17, 1888.

' Application filed J une 22, 1887. Serial No. 242,099. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILHELM LORENZ, of Carlsruhe,'Baden, in the Empireof Germany, have invented a certain new and useful improvement relatingto percussion-fuses or reactionplugs in metal cartridgecases for`breech-loading cannons, for utilizing the action of the explosion-gasesfor driving back the striking-bolt and appurtenances, and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

The reaction-plugs are so disposed between the striker and the primer inthe cap-chamber of metal cartridge-cases, or in the priming contrivancesapplied to such ca rtridge-cascs, as to be moved forward by the actionofthe strikingbolt, and thus carried with the primer against the anvil,and afterward at the explosion ofthe powder, in consequence of the greatforce produced by the gases, to be thrown back to a' certain extent andout of the cap-chamber. The invention allows me by means of suchbackward movements or recoils to operate automatically on the lockmechanism in the breech of the arm to compress the spring of the strikerand push back the striker into its initial (starting) position. Thepower thus obtained may be utilized in other ways-as, for example, todisengage an arresting contrivance of the breech-piece of the arm*andthus to open the breech or to effect useful operations, which otherwisewould be made in opening and charging again the arm. The reaction-plugis larger than the Astriking-bolt, but smaller than an annular casingwhich surrounds the latter in the breech of the arm. This annular casingis subject to the force of a stronger spring than that which actuatesthe striking-bolt. It is restrained by suitable means, so that it cannotmove forward too far. It is ready to move backward when subjected to asufficientl force. When the primer receives the great force of thedischarge of the arm it moves backward, carrying the striking-bolt andalso the annular case with it. The striking-bolt on being carried backfar enough is engaged by its proper detent in the locked position, whilethe annular casing urged for- Ward by the constant force of its strongspring moves again to its original position so soon as theforce of theexplosion is past. c :Theaccompanying drawings form a part oi thisspecification and represent what I consider the best means of carryingout the invention. All are central longitudinal sections. They show veryclearly the several stages of the action. They illustrate, also, somevarieties in the forms and constructions. To save labor I have shownsome varieties of construction in the same series of figures, which showthe successive stages of the action. In two of the figures the left sideshows one construction and the right side another. All are alike in theessential points.

Figure l shows all the conditions when all is ready for firing, but notyet moving. Fig. 2 shows the conditions at the moment of the forwardmovement of the striking-bolt to discharge the piece. The remainingfigures show modifications. Fig. 3 shows a modification in which theconditions correspond to Fig. l. Fig. 4 shows the same corresponding toFig. 2. Fig. 5 shows the same a brief period later, when the dischargeis taking place. Fig. 6 shows a modification of the reactionplug. It hasa coiled spring acting on the central pin. Fig. 7 shows anothermodification of the reaction-plug. It is solid, with a circumferentialgroove at the rear to facilitate its extraction.V Fig. 8 is a centralhorizontal section through an entire gun having this invention applied.The breech-block swings on trunnions and locks strongly with the breechof thegun, as shown. The general construction of the gun is identicalwith that set forth in United States patent to Nathan Thompson, numbered130,452,'and bearing date August 13, 1872.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures where they occur.

A is a metal cartridgecase of any construe tion and of any bore.

B is a cap-chamber made solid with the same.

B is the capchamber of a priming contrivance, which 'is either screwedor pinched or otherwise fixed in the cartridge-case.

The anvil C may in the ordinary way be fastened to the bottom of thecartridge-case or to the primer of the same by pressing, screwing,pinching, Sie., and may have its usual conical form or may be madeannular.

IGC

D represents the breech-piece of the arm, of l any ordinary orsuitableconstruction. The reaction-plug a, which if required is greased,

is inclosed in the cap-chamber B,with its rear" end flush with thecartridge-case bottom. The primer b, which we will assume is simply apercussion-cap, lies close to the plug. For better extraction, the plugmay be provided with a hole or worm, at, Fig. 3, or with a notch, a5,Fig. 7, or with any other suitable provision to facilitate seizing thesame by means of a suitable instrument.

In the breech-piece -D there is disposed :a case, c, which, by means ofa strong spring, e', is always forced against the metal cartridgecaseand against the plug a, being arrested by a suitable stop, c, so as tolie with its frontv end exactly iiush with the front face of thebreech-piece. In this case c there is disposed a striking-bolt, d,which, by a spring, d', of less force than the spring c', is pushedagainst the plug a as soon as the trigger G, Fig. 8', is pulled forring. Bythis action the reactionplug, with the primer, is pushed againstthe anvil, (position Fig. 4,) and the charge is exploded. Then, by theaction of the gases against the plug a, it is driven rback and partiallyout of the cap-chamber, thereby forcing the striking-bolt, with vitscase c, backward in the breech-piece, as shown in Fig. 5.l

the striking-bolt to its initial position, (start.- ingpoint,) (sec Fig.1,) in order to be there engaged and held by ordinary means-as,k forinstance, by the disk F2 on the bolt d, with which a springactuatedcatch, F, engages for tire cartridge-case and primeigwith plug,withdrawn, and a new cartridgecase, with its powder and projectile, withnew primer and plug, may be introduced. Then the gun, after closing andsecuring the breech, will again be ready for firing.

In order that the strikingbolt may noty have to push the whole plug aforward, but only a portion of the same, of small weight, there may bedisposed in the reaction-plug a small bolt or pin, a', which is drivenforward by the striking-bolt to explode the primer. F ig. 1 shows such aconstruction and arrangement of the parts before disengaging thestriking-bolt. On the firing of the charge the percussion-cap with thepin and the striking-bolt are driven back so far that the head a2 willbear against plug a, whereupon all the parts, a, a', b, c, and d, areforced back into they breech-piece D, as shown in Fig. 5. In order thatsuch plug may retain exactly the proper The parts are so arranged as tobring back position in the'capchamber, it may be retained there by anyconvenient contrivance which does not impede its backward motionproduced by the recoil due to the explosion. For example, a spring, a3,may be employed, which holds the plug in its proper position, as shownin Fig. 1, on the left side. This spring will by the said recoil undergoa corresponding compression.

In an analogous way the pin a may be secured against leaving its placeprematurely by a spring, a6, Fig. 6. Such a spring will also serve tourge the pin back to the right position. ing-bolt d, or ofthestriking-bolt with its guidecase c, are-effected with rapidity andenergy, and t'hemotion maybe utilized in various ways for effecting anyfunctions-as for automatically driving back and arresting the striking'-bolt, or for cooking the lock, or for unlocking the brecchpiece, or foropening the breech,y or for effecting two or more of these functionstogether,vor any analogous work which otherwise would be done by handafter firing, thus saving the corresponding manipulations. For example,as before mentioned, the strikingbolt. in Y'its utmost back position maybe retained by an arresting contrivance, (a catchspring,latch,bolt,&c.,) and the strikingspring d be compressed bymeans of thestronger spring c', working on the advancing case c; or the retiringofthe striking-bolt or of the case c may be used for withdrawing acontrivanc'e which holds the breech in its closed position, (as, forexample, a spring, a latch, a bolt, a lever, 8rd,) so that the breechmay be opened; or there may, bysuch backward motions of the striker orof its guidecase, or of both these parts, be a displacing or a turningof the breech-piece, so as to automatically open the breech or toautomatically prepare for this operation. Y

Fig. 2 shows the striking-bolt pushed forward and the pin ct', withprimer b, forced against the anvil C.

Thel plug may bemade solid, Fig. 3, or may be hollow, Figs. 1 and 2. Itmay be made in one with the primer, as shown in Fig. 7. lSuchreaction-plugs may be applied to all cartridgecases of any constructionand bore which are provided with cap-chambers B of sufficientdimensions, and may be employed for arms of every description,especiallyfor small and large field and position guns, mountain-howitzers, andrevolving guns, &c. They reduce the manipulations usually necessaryafter firing for the introduction of a new charge. They make the servicesimpler and easier and permit a greater number of shots than heretoforein a given time.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a primer for cartridges, thecartridgecase A, anvil C, cap b, resting on said anvil, andreaction-plug a, sliding within said cartridge-case behind said cap, incombination with the breech-piece D, arranged behind and in alignmentwith the cartrid ge-case, the guide- The backward movements of thestrik- IOO IIS

casevc, sliding within said breech-piece, the

` guide-case, and the Weak spring d', forcing said firing-pin forward,as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a primer for cartridges, the cartridgecase A, anvil C, cap b,resting on said anvil, and reaction-plug a, sliding within saidcartridge-case behind said cap, in combination with the breech-piece D,arranged behind and in alignment with the cartridge-case, the guidecasec, sliding Within said breech-piece, said guide-case being of largerdiameter than said reaction-plug, the strong spring c', forcing saidguide-case forward, the stop c", limiting such forward movement, thestriking-bolt d, sliding Within said guide-case, said striking-boltbeingsmallerin diameter than said reaction-plug, and the Weak spring d',forcing said firing-pin forward, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a primer for cartridges, the cartridgecase A, anvil C, cap b,resting on said anvil, longitudinally-perforated reaction plug a,sliding within said cartridgecase, and firing-pin af, sliding Within theperforation in said reac- 1 tion-plug, in combination with abreech-piece` D, arranged behind and in alignment with thecartridge-case, a spring-actuated guide-case, c, therein, anindependently spring actuated striking-bolt, d, within said guide-case,and means for tripping said striking-bolt and thereby exploding the Cap,substantially as described.

4. In a primer for cartridges, the cartridgeease A, anvilC, cap b,resting on said anvil, internally-recessed and longitudinally-perforatedreaction-plug a, slidingA within said cartridge-ease,ringpin a', slidingWithin the perforation in said reactionpiug, and spring a5, disposed inthe recess in said reaction-plug and operating to draw said ring-pinback within said plug, in combination with abreech-piece, D, arrangedbehind and in alignment with the cartridge-ease, a spring-actuatedguide-ease, c, therein, an independently spring-actuated striking-bolt,d, within said guide-case, and means for tripping said striking-bolt andthereby exploding the cap, substantially as described.

5. In a primer for cartridges, the cartridgecase A, anvil C, cap b,resting on said anvil, reaction-plug a, sliding within said case, andspringaa, for pressing said plug gently against the baolc of the cap, incombination with a breech-piece, D, arranged behind and in alignmentwith the cartridge-case,a spring-actuated guide-oase, c, therein,anindependently springactuated striking-bolt, d, within said guidecase,and means for tripping said striking-bolt and thereby exploding the cap,substantially as described,

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand at Berlin, this 24th dayof November, 1886, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILHELM LORENZ.

Witnesses:

B. ROI, C. GRoMIs.

